Threespot Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Threespot Wrasse, is a reef-associated wrasse found widely across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Western Australia, and offshore territories such as Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
• The species is named for its three distinct black spots: one behind the eye, one mid-body, and one near the base of the tail. These spots are present in both juveniles and females, though less obvious in terminal males.
• Terminal-phase males are colourful, often greenish to bluish with broken orange to red lines along the head and body, while females and juveniles are more subdued with brownish or greenish tones.
• Juveniles use their bold three spots as camouflage, breaking up their body outline to confuse predators.
• Like other wrasses, Threespot Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites — they begin life as females, with some individuals transforming into brightly coloured males as they grow larger and more dominant.
• They are active daytime foragers, feeding on small benthic invertebrates such as worms, copepods, amphipods, and molluscs, which they pick from sand and rubble surfaces.
• At night or when threatened, they bury themselves in sand to hide from nocturnal predators such as moray eels and snappers.
• Spawning occurs at dusk in pairs or small groups, with fertilised eggs released into the water column where they drift as plankton before hatching.
• Their lifespan is not well documented but is estimated at 4–6 years, similar to related wrasses of comparable size.
• Predators include larger reef fishes such as groupers, snappers, and predatory wrasses. Their small size and sand-burying habits are effective defences.
• The species name trimaculatus literally means “three-spotted,” referring to its characteristic markings.